COMMERCIAL WILD FRUITS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 228, 15 March 1928, Page 8

COMMERCIAL WILD FRUITS.

Canada’s wild fruits, which grow everywhere in abundance, are a valuable asset, not only to the farm larder, but also as a commercial sideline (remarks the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle). The most profitable of these is the blueberry, which has a commercial value equal to, if not greater, than that of the strawberry. In 1926 the blueberry crop, in addition to furnishing all the Canadian needs, had a surplus availabel for export amounting to 3,644,551 lbs—worth 333,637 dollars (£66,607). This value was almost five times greater than the, strawberry crop exported.

The only labour required for profiting by the sale of blueberries is that o f picking, for there is no investment in planting or cultivating. Ip many sections of the country, particularly in the east, this wild berry is one of the best revenue-producers of rural areas, and it is not unusual for one family to net several hundreds of dollars from a few weeks’ blueberry harvesting. The industry is thriving in the maritime provinces, and plans have been formulated to expand it more widely. Government action has been asked for in Nova Scotia to supervise the burning over of blueberry patches to ensure a new and healthy growth of bushes. From New Brunswick, where somewhat similar steps have been taken, a large part of the crop moves to New England centres, and the demand is consistently greater than the supply.